Hair retainer



Nov. 13, 1951 l.. T. sAwYER HAIR RETAINER Filed Jan. l5, 1948 Inv afar MLCHZLcr'JaU/yer @am Abg/k Patented Nov. 13, 1951 UNITED STATES` PATENT OFFICE HAIR RETAINER Lester T. Sawyer,1Leominster, Mass.

r Application January 15, 1948, Serial No. 2,473

10 Claims. V1

This invention relates to hair retainers such as combs or hairpins of the type having teeth shaped or arranged to provide a gripping Iaction von the hair.

Hair retainers of this t'ype are primarily used to maintain a selected coiffure and it is of primary importance that the hair retainer should not only be of attractive appearance and reliable in operation, but also be easily inserted and withdrawn from the hair 'so as not to impair the coiffure. such hair retainers is the failure to grip and/or interlock with the hair with suflicient tenacity to prevent displacement and consequent impairment of the coiffure, 'and although numerous attempts have been made to overcome this diil culty, they have `usually resulted in sacrificing appearance and/or ease of application or withdrawal, or other desirable features.

The principal objects of the present invention yare to provide a hair retainer of the above type which is not only of attractive appearance and reliable in operation, capable or holding itself in hair of varying degrees of henes's, but also which may be readily inserted in and 'withdrawn `'from the hair without, disturbing theV coiffure, and tol provide a hair retainer which is vso designed that it may :be economically manufactured by massproduction methods, `such as injection molding, etc. f

Further objects' relate to various features of construction and will be apparent from fa consideration of the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig'. 1 a 4View '0f the Obverse lf'aC O f One fOIIn Of hair ltalller Cllstiuctd ifi acc()liahc "With the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top'plan View thref;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on 'the line 3*-3 f Fig. 1;

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary views of the 0bverse faces of hair retainers of modified construction; l

Fig. 5a is a fragmentary f-ace View of a hair retainer illustrating another modication;

Fig. 6 is a side view showing the shape of the teeth of the hair retainers of Figs. 4 and 5';

(ci. 13e- 26) One of the outstanding diiculties 0f Fig. 7 is a view of the obverse face of another type of hair retainer;

Fig. 7a is a 'fragmentary face VeWOf a modied form of hair retainer similar to that of Fig. 7; and

Figs. `8 and 9 are fragmentary details illustrating different types of hair-locking shoulders which may be formed on the teeth of hair `retainers.

In accordance with the present invention I provide a hair retainer which comprises a back and a vseries of at least three arcuate teeth collectively dening' 'a convex obverse face and a concave, reverse face, the inner ends of all teeth lbeing rormed integral with and projecting at approximately rightangles (i. e., to 100) from 'the back. The alternate or outer teeth of the series Inay,'if desired, belformed with a slight taper t'Wald their 'I Ends and the tooth intermedi-ate the outer or alternate teeth is preferably of 'greater cross-sectional area at its inner end and is bifurcated at a point spaced from the back. Each bifurcated portion is bent or bowed outwardly away from' the other at an angle preferably not exceeding 30, relative to the direction of the inner end of the intermediate tooth, with its crest contiguous to the central portion of the outer or alternate teeth and then bowed inwardly at approximately the 'same angle so as either to merge into a single tooth or provide resilient contiguous bowed portions. In both cases the free Aend or ends "of the intermediate tooth or teeth,

as 'the case may be, are spaced equal distances from' the'alt'ernate or outer teeth and all teeth are formed with pointed ends defined by a convex bevel on the side corresponding to the reverse face 'of the hair retainer.

If desired, the intermediate or alternate teeth may be formed with laterally projecting hairlockng shoulders which may or may not be in actual contact with the adjacent teeth, depending upon the angle 'at which such shoulders project. For example, where the hair-locking shoulders `project laterally at an angle of approximately actual Contact is not necessary; but where the 'angle of the shoulder is substantially less than 90,"contact or close proximity is desirable. In 'any case the shoulder angle of a hair retainer to be used with relatively coarse hair should be less than that of a hair retainer to be used with fine hair, and as a practical matter three different shoulder angles 'are desirable for use with ne, medium and coarse hair.

Referring to the `embodiment shown in Figs. l to 3, the'numeral I designates the back of a comb which vi's bowed longitudinally and, if desired, may carry any suitable design or other embellishment. Integral vwith and projecting at approximately right 'angles Afrom the back I are end teeth 2, a. plurality of alternate teeth 3 and intermediate teeth 4, each of which is of arcuate shape, as shown in Fig. 3, to provide a convex obverse face and a concave reverse face permitting close conformity with the contour of the The 'end teeth 2 and alternate teeth 3 to vcorresponding parts. shown in Fig'. V4 the inner edges of the end teeth 2 taper from their xed ends, the end teeth being of greater cross-sectional area to provide the necessary extra strength. The obverse face of each tooth is relatively fiat, i. e., straight in crosssection, and the reverse face of each tooth is of convex arcuate shape in cross-section.

The inner ends of intermediate teeth 4 are of somewhat greater cross-sectional area than the alternate teeth 3 and are bifurcated at a point spaced Vfrom the back I to provide outwardly bowed portions 5 and 6 which flare at an angle of approximately 15, relative to the direction of the inner end or base portion of the teeth, and their crests 8 contact or are contiguous to the central portions of the adjacent alternate teeth 3, as shown in Fig. 1. The teeththen bow inwardly or converge into contiguous relation with each other, as indicated at I0, and their end portions are bowed outwardly, terminating in aligned relation 'with those of the end and valternate teeth 2 and 3.

The free ends of all teeth are spaced equal distances `from each other to insure an even distribution of the hair throughout the length of vthe comb when applied in the usual manner, and

each of the teeth .has a pointed free end formed by a convex bevel I2 on the side corresponding to the reverse face ofthe comb. The vconvex surfaces I2 are effective to prevent the pointed ends of the teeth from digging into-the scalp when the Acomb is applied, it being noted that the convex surfaces vcontact the scalp, rather than the pointed ends, when the comb is 'applied in the usual manner.

With this construction and arrangement each pair of alternate teeth 3 and associated intermediate tooth 4 defines three hair-receiving pockets a, b, and c (Fig. l)4 and produces a threepoint gripping action at the crests 8 and I0. The gripping action thus produced is variable and adjusts itself to the type of hair-i. e., upon a heavy head of hair the gripping action is correspondingly greater than with a relatively lighter head of hair, due to the fact that the hair in the pockets a and bA reacts on the'bowed portions 5 and 6 to increase the` gripping action at the points Il) and the hair in the pockets c, opposing inward flexing movement of the bowed portions 5 and, tends to lock the hair in pockets a, and b.

Another feature of the present construction is the angle of flare of the bowed portions 5 and 6 which is such as to permit the comb vto be easily Ainserted in and wtihdrawn from the hair, and

due to the equal spacing of the tips of all teeth the hair in uniformly distributed and hence the `above described gripping action is equalized throughout the length of the comb.

' The embodiments shown in Figs. 4 and 9 are in principle the same as that of Figs. 1 to 3 and the same or similar reference characters are applied In the embodiment and both side edges of alternate'teeth 3a are formed with lateral projections or hair-locking shoulders I5 which conform to the curvature of the outwardly bowed portions 5 and 6, thus providing gripping areas inwardly of the crest 8 whicha-re of appreciable length, as distinguished from relatively small gripping areas at and adj acent to the crests 8 of the embodiment of Figs.

1 to 3. i

4In the'embodiments shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the intermediate teeth 4 are bifurcated as in the previously described embodiments, but the bifurcated portions 5 and Smerge at IB to form a single free end portion I8. In addition, the central projections of the end and alternate teeth 2b and 3D are formed with lateral projections 20 at the inner side of the crest 8, which projections conform to the curvature of the bowed portions 5 and 6 so as to provide the maximum grippingv area which has been found feasible without sacricing the advantageous features above described.

In place of the solid alternate teeth 3b shown in Figs. 4 and 5, such teeth may be of the bifurcated type, as illustrated in Fig. 5a, and such bifurcated teeth 3c may be formed with hairlocking shoulders or projections 20 corresponding to those of the alternate teeth of the embodiments of Figs. 4 and 5.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 7 illustrates the application of the invention to a hairpin-type hair-retainer which comprises a back Ia having a pair of outer teeth 2b and an intermediate tooth 4a which is shorter than the outer teeth. The intermediate tooth 4a is bifurcated to provide bowed portions 5 and 6 which merge at I6 into a single free end I8. Both the end portions of the outer teeth 2b and the intermediate tooth lla are pointed, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6, and the innerv edges of the end teeth 2b are formed with hair-locking shoulders or projections I5 conforming with the contour of the inner bowed portions 5 and 6, as in the embodiment of Fig. 4. If desired, the hair-retaining shoulders I5 may be formed integral with the bifurcated tooth 4a, as illustrated in Fig. 7a. The free end portion I8 is spaced an equal distance from the outer teeth 2b so as to divide the hair into two equal parts when the hairpin is inserted in the usual manner. In this embodiment, as the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the gripping areas dened by laterally projecting shoulders are effective securely to hold the hair within the pockets a and b thereby preventing accidental displacement of the hair retainer.

In each of the embodiments shown in Figs. 4 to 7, the hair-locking shoulders project laterally with their upper surfaces extending at an angle of the order of 60, relative to the longitudinal axis of the tooth. Such an angle is the optimum for medium hair, but for relatively ne hair an angle of approximately as illustrated at I5iL in Fig. 8, is desired; whereas for relatively coarse hair an angle of 45 or less, as illustrated at I5b in Fig. 9, is desired.

While I have shown different desirable embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration and that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

The disclosed and claimed device of Fig. '7 of the present application is disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 2,474, now Patent I claim:

1. .A hair retainer comprising a back and at least one group of three arcuate teeth collectively defining a convex obverse face and a concave reverse face, the inner ends of said teeth being integral with and projecting at approximately right angles from said back, the intermediate tooth being bifurcated at a point spaced from said back and each bifurcated portion being bowed away from the other with its crest contiguous to the central portion of the adjacent tooth and then bowed inwardly toward each other, the obverse face of each tooth being relaatrapar tively straight in cross-section Vand vthe `:reverse race of each tooth being of convexV arcuate shape in cross-section, the free ends `of all teeth being spaced apart an equal distance :and having `pointed endportions formed by a convex bevel `on the side corresponding .to the reverse face of the hair retainer. f

`2. A hair retainer comprising a back and a series of` arcuate teeth collectively denning a convex `obverse'faoe and -a concave .reverse face,

i said teeth having theirv inner :ends integral with -fagnd 'projecting at `approximately right angles from said back, the 'rst and third teeth of said series .having 'tapered free end portions and the .second tooth of said series being bifurcated vat a point spaced from said back, the bifurcated portions being bowed awayvfrom each other with ltheir crests contiguous "to `the central portions of Adefining Va convex. obverse face and `a concave bowed inwardly toward each other, the obverse face of each tooth being relatively straight in cross-section and the reverse face of each tooth being of convex arcuate shape in cross-section, the free ends of all teeth being spaced apart an equal distance and having pointed end portions formed by a convex bevel on the side corresponding to the reverse face of the hair retainer.

4. A hair retainer comprising a back and a plurality of arcuate teeth collectively defining a convex obverse face and a concave reverse face, said teeth having their inner ends integral with and projecting at approximately right angles from said back, alternate teeth tapering toward their free ends and the teeth intermediate said alternate teeth being bifurcated at a point spaced from said back, the bifurcated portions being bowed outwardly away from each other with their crests contiguous to the central portions of the adjacent alternate teeth and then bowed inwardly into contiguous relation with each other and finally bowed outwardly away from each other so that the tips of their free end portions are spaced apart an equal distance from each other and from the tips of said alternate teeth, all of said teeth having pointed ends formed by a convex bevel on the side.corresponding to the reverse face of the hair retainer.

5. A hair retainer comprising a back and a plurality of arcuate teeth collectively defining a convex obverse face and a concave reverse face, said teeth having their inner ends integral with and projecting at approximately right angles from said back, alternate teeth tapering toward their free ends and the teeth intermediate said alternate teeth being bifurcated at a point spaced from said baolgeach bif-urcated 'portion being Ybowed outwardly at an angle not exceeding 15 relative to the direction of ltheinner end of the 'intermediate Atooth with their crests contiguous Hto the `central portions of the adjacent alternate 'teeth and then bowed inwardly .into contiguous relation with each other `and viin'ally bowed outwardly-away ffrom eachother so 'that' the 'tips of their free end portions .arespacediap'art an equal distance from each other and fromthe tipsof 'said alternate teeth. all bfsaid'teeth 4having `pointed ends formed by la convex bevel on the i side` corresponding to the reverse fface of the hair retainer.

6. -A hair retainer comprising a back and a plurality of Varcuate teeth collectively defi-ning' a convex obverse face and a concavereverse face, said teeth having their inner ends integral with and projecting at 'approximately right angles from said back, alternate teeth tapering toward 'their free ends and the teeth intermediate vsaid alternate teeth being bifurcated at -a point spaced 'from -said back, 'the bi-furcated portions being bowed outwardly away from each other with their crests contiguous tothe central portions-of the adjacent 4alternate teeth andv then bowed inwardly into contiguous relation with each other and iinally bowedV outwardly away from each other so that the tips of their free `'end portions lare spaced equidistant from 'each Vother and from the tips of said alternate teeth, the inner porftions of the alternate teeth having lateral projections providing 'hair-locking shoulders, the

obverse face lof each tooth y being relatively straight in cross-section and the reverse face of each tooth being of convex arcuate shape in cross-section, all of said teeth having pointed end portions formed by a convex bevel on the side corresponding to the reverse face of the hair retainer.

7. A hair retainer comprising a back and a plurality of arcuate teeth collectively deiining a convex obverse face and a concave reverse face, said teeth having their innerends integral with and projecting at approximately right angles from said back, alternate teeth tapering toward their free ends andthe teeth intermediate said alternate teeth'being bifurcated at a point spaced from said back, the bifurcated portions being bowed outwardly away from each other with their crests contiguous to the central portions of. the adjacent alternate teeth and then bowed inwardly and merging into a single tooth tapering toward its free end, the obverse face of each tooth being relatively straight in cross-section and the reverse face of each tooth being of convex arcuate shape in cross-section, the free ends of all teeth being spaced apart an equal distance from each other and having pointed ends formed by a convex bevel on the side corresponding to the reverse face of the hair retainer.

8. A hair retainer comprising a back and a plurality of arcuate teeth collectively defining a convex obverse face and a concave reverse face, said teeth having their inner ends integral with and projecting at approximately right angles from said back, alternate teeth tapering toward their free ends and the teeth intermediate said alternate teeth being bifurcated at a point spaced from said back, the bifurcated portions being bowed outwardly away from each other with their crests contiguous to the central portions of the adjacent alternate teeth and then bowed inwardly merging into a single tooth tapering toward its free end, the inner portions of alterhair-locking shoulders, the obverse face of each tooth being relatively straight in cross-section and the reverse face of each tooth being of convex arcuate shape in cross-section, all of said teeth l having pointed end portions formed by a convex bevel on the side corresponding to the reverse face of the hair retainer and spaced apart an equal distance from one another.

9. A hair retainer comprising a back and three arcuate teeth collectively dening a convex obverse and concavereverse face, the inner ends of Asaid teeth being integral with and projecting at approximately right angles from said back, the

vouter teeth having tapered free end portions and the 'intermediate tooth being bifurcated at a point spaced from said back, the bifurcated portions being bowed away from each other with their crests contiguous to the central portions of the adjacent outer teeth and then merging into,I

a single tooth tapering toward its free end, the inner portions of said outer teeth having lateral projections providing hair-locking shoulders, the

obverse face of each tooth being relatively straight in cross-section and the reverse face of leach tooth being of convex arcuate shape in cross-section, all of said teeth having pointed end portions spaced apartan equal distance from each other and formed bya convex bevel on the Y side corresponding to the reverse face of the hair retainer.

10. A hair retainer comprising .a back and and the intermediate tooth being bifurcated at a point spaced from said back, the bfurcated portions being bowed away from each other with their crests contiguous to the central portions of the adjacent outer teeth and then merging into a single tooth tapering toward its free end, the outer portions of said bifurcated tooth having lateral projections providing hair-locking shoulders, the obverse face of each tooth being relatively straight in cross-section and the reverse face of each tooth being of convex arcuate shape in cross-section, all of said teeth having pointed end portions spaced apart an equal distance from each other and formed by a convex bevel on the side corresponding to the reverse face of the hair retainer.

LESTER. T. SAWYER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this. patent:

v'UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 135,788 Phillips June 8, 1943 1,684,362 Sawyer Sept. 11, 1928 2,227,451 -Huppert Jan. 7, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 305,916 Great Britain Feb. 14, 1929 

